AMA What's the difference between a "deep cleaning" and regular firearm cleaning?

[Where's Bruce?]

Sounds like dental terminology to me.

 

[1911-CV]

As little as the mark customer will accept...

 

[Where's Bruce?]

So it's not stuff like ultrasonic barrel/parts cleaning?

 

[Gawernator]

There is no legal definition for these terms. Outside of what the manual tells you to clean nothing else is needed.. to me a deep cleaning would be like disassembling and cleaning every part to like new

 

[Gromann]

Probably cleaning the exterior and rifling/bore vs. disassembly and component cleaning. The closest shop to me that does it does it as a full breakdown then ultrasonic cleaning and reassembly.

 

[Hindsight]

Field strip vs full disassembly (during which inspections should be done of common wear parts and parts to be proactively replaced such as worn springs). Full disassembly may include ultrasonic cleaning in a solution bath.

 

[NorCalBusa]

2.734" (give or take).

 

[RustyIron]

So it's not stuff like ultrasonic barrel/parts cleaning?

Use an ultrasonic cleaner isn't my cuppa tea. If the gun is dirty, take it apart and clean it properly.

"Quick and easy" cleaning on a pistol would generally involve a basic field stripping. Clean the barrel, slide, grip frame, magazine, breech face, rails, etc. Lube and reassemble.

If the gun has seen a lot of action, especially on a tiny striker-fired pistol, I'll disassemble and clean the striker, striker channel, firing pin, extractor, etc.

If the gun is filthy or it's been a long time, I'll take apart the action and clean every part that can be disassembled. I'll do the same with the bolt on some rifles. If it's gas operated, you'll want to clean that area.

If I buy an old gun, I'll take it apart and look at everything, regardless of cleanliness. Old oil turns to muck and needs to be cleaned off.

Although it might seem lazy, use of squirt'em products like Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber can be effective. If you have a pistol that hasn't been thoroughly cleaned in a while, hold the gun over a white rag and hose the action down with the spray. You might be surprised by all the gunk that comes running out.

 

[painkiller]

One is just the tip…

 

[OmOpLaTa]

A deep clean is when you disassemble everything, scrub carbon and dirt off with a CLP and/or solvent, use brake parts washer or alcohol to take off all oils or grease, wipe dry, then lubricate parts and reassemble. Regular firearm cleaning is just taking apart the basic parts, using a CLP and scrubbing a little here and there, using a rag to wipe all the crap out, then lube and reassemble.

 

[Hindsight]

Use an ultrasonic cleaner isn't my cuppa tea. If the gun is dirty, take it apart and clean it properly.

Regular quick and easy cleaning on a pistol would generally involve a basic field stripping. Clean the barrel, slide, grip frame, magazine, breech face, rails, etc. Lube and reassemble.

If the gun has seen a lot of action, especially on a tiny striker-fired pistol, I'll disassemble and clean the striker, striker channel, firing pin, extractor, etc.

If the gun is filthy or it's been a long time, I'll take apart the action and clean every part that can be disassembled. I'll do the same with the bolt on some rifles. If it's gas operated, you'll want to clean that area.

If I buy an old gun, I'll take it apart and look at everything, regardless of cleanliness. Old oil turns to muck and needs to be cleaned off.

Although it might seem lazy, use of squirt'em products like Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber can be effective. If you have a pistol that hasn't been thoroughly cleaned in a while, hold the gun over a white rag and hose the action down with the spray. You might be surprised by all the gunk that comes running out.

ultrasonic cleaner can be clutch for caked on carbon in compensators and such.

 

[Funjeff]

About an hour

 

[joefrank64k]

What’s this ‘cleaning’ you speak of??

 

[AR15barrels]

In my opinion, regular cleaning stops at a basic field strip.
You field strip, wipe everything down and clean the bore, then reassemble and lubricate.
A deep clean is usually full disassembly to remove all pins/springs/moving parts and get out any debris that is lodged in the moving parts and then full reassembly and lubrication.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Field strip vs full disassembly (during which inspections should be done of common wear parts and parts to be proactively replaced such as worn springs). Full disassembly may include ultrasonic cleaning in a solution bath.

Sig provides this service for their pistols for around $200 and they replace all the springs and put on new night sights/

 

[cali_jazz]

Deep cleaning means you really REALLY care about your firearm!

 

[tonkabean]

A deep cleaning means taking apart the entire firearm, and cleaning every single part that you otherwise couldn’t during a normal field strip. This usually takes tools beyond what most people have in their garages.

 

[RustyIron]

This usually takes tools beyond what most people have in their garages.

Just looking at the guns sitting here on my desk, I don't see any that require any specialized tools to perform a "real"cleaning. If any grownup doesn't already have a few screwdrivers, drifts, wrenches, and hammers, he (or she) needs to set down the xbox (or playstation) and drive (or uber) over to the hardware store and spend a few bucks on life's basic necessities.

 

[Gawernator]

Just looking at the guns sitting here on my desk, I don't see any that require any specialized tools to perform a "real"cleaning. If any grownup doesn't already have a few screwdrivers, drifts, wrenches, and hammers, he (or she) needs to set down the xbox (or playstation) and drive (or uber) over to the hardware store and spend a few bucks on life's basic necessities.

Leave my Xbox and Steam deck alone